What “Sundowner” Hears

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 7 December 1927, Page 8

What “Sundowner” Hears

Notice has been received of the official test record of the Guernsey cow Brilliant Lassie, who has produced in 2190 days 40041 b of butterfat. This works out at an average of 571 b of butter-fat a month for 72 months. She averaged four gallons of milk a day for 72 months, or an average of G67lh of fat for six vears’ test. This was done under farm conditions on twice a day milking. This is not an American record. As yet there are not many Guernseys under test in Australia.

Good green feed, clean and fresh, has special virtues for either old or young calves, and every ‘endeavour should be made to have it available for them. There is nothing better than good pasture. This and a clean water supply, especially in summer, are two accessories which, next to a supply of skim milk, consitute the reatest boon to the calf rearer. Closely grazed pastures are dangerous to calves. ’'"rticularly during wet seasons, as they are liable to pick up t,he eggs nf parasitic worms which may be the cause oi heavy mortality in young cattle.

Twelve bales of AVingadee wool, in a new hemp lined pack, invented by -Mrs Mary Baird., of Sydney, have been exhibited in London. Buyers did not show much interest in the exhibit. Some experts say they consider the pack is not likely to be a success, and that they prefer the Aykryd wire and paper pack. • « • Damp surroundings will not hurt the average pig kept on. the outdoor system, provided it has a dry bed to sleep on at night, but there is a vast difference between the effect of damp on the outdoor pig and that kept in a stye. AVith the latter, if they are allowed to lie on a damp floor composed of boards with a small amount of litter over them, rheumatism is almost bound to result, and there is nothing verv much worse than to possess a brood sow that is very nearl.v a cripple owing to rheumatic troubles. How can she produce a healty and strong litter of pigs under such conditions ? The ’drainage of the stye is all important under such conditions, and tin’s is a point that is well worth watching.

Good blood provides the frame which will carry the flesh evenly and smoothly, but it is up to man to see that sufficient feeds of the right kind are at all times available to cover that frame sufficiently and smoothly.

The animal system uses salt in the body to make hydrochloric acid, which is used to digest the food, and as the digestion of food is a continuous process, it is necessary that animals must have a small amount of salt every day.

The surplus grass feed, which is usually obtained during the spring and early summer mouths, and is not required, can be profitably converted into silage for use during a period of scarcity.

After a flight of 2000 miles, a homing pigeon was picked up wet and exhausted in a New York street. On one of its legs was a message telling that Dr. Edmund Heller, a famous naturalist was lost in the koodoo -Mountains of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, U.S.A.

A dustman employed by a Surrey (England) authority 18 months ago, G. AV Allen, now owns a farm of 160 acres in Canada, complete with buildings and stock, and valued at £lOOO.

An acre of millet costs for seed, manure, and labour about £2 10s, and will provide succulent supplementary feed for at least five cows for two months at a time when it is important to arrest the natural tendency for the flow of miSk to decrease.

It is reasonable to suppose that basic super or lime and super should be better manures than super straight, but there is no evidence in support of this theory. One can only conclude that readily available phosphates are the outstanding requirement and are the only class of fertiliser profitable to use. at least as far as top-dressing is concerned.

The rearing of any heifer calf or bull calf in au indifferent way will never be conducive to profitable returns. It is essential to be painstaking. As a rule dairy farmers must select their own young stock and rear them, for improvements are never made easilv.